TURKEY MOVES CLOSER TO CROSS-BORDER OPERATION
The Supreme Anti-Terror Board yesterday gathered under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss measures to combat the terrorist PKK. "The order has been given to take every kind of measure - legal, economic and political - also including a cross-border operation, if necessary," said Erdogan's office in a statement afterwards. Parliament would have to authorize any large-scale military operation into Iraq . In related news, marches were held in many cities in Turkey to protest the latest deadly attacks of the terrorist group. Two thousand people took part in a march organized by Ankara 's Hacettepe University . /Aksam/
GUL SENDS LETTER TO US' BUSH WARNING AGAINST PASSAGE OF ARMENIAN RESOLUTION
President Abdullah Gul yesterday sent a letter to US President George W. Bush arguing against passage of a resolution on the so-called Armenian genocide allegations set to be debated today by a key US House of Representatives committee. In the letter, Gul warned that passage of the resolution would create problems in Turkish-US relations. Gul also thanked Bush for his efforts to date to block the resolution. Yesterday Gul also received Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, chairwoman of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), together with Gerardo Diaz Ferran, head of the Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organizations (CEOE), at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. /Sabah-Hurriyet/
PRESIDENT GUL VISITS CONSTITUTIONAL COURT
President Abdullah Gul yesterday visited the Constitutional Court and met with its members. Afterwards, Gul urged the Turkish people not to let recent terrorist attacks deject them, and added, "We'll determinedly continue the fight against terrorism. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has the situation in hand." In related news, Gul received Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos and an accompanying delegation at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. /Sabah/
ERDOGAN BREAKS RAMADAN FAST WITH THRACIAN GREEK MUFTIS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with muftis from Greece 's Western Thrace region during a fast-breaking iftar meal given by the Prime Ministry's Official Residence. State Minister Said Yazicioglu was also at the meal. The Higher Planning Board (YPK) also convened yesterday under Erdogan's chairmanship. The meeting addressed next year's budget and resources to be allocated for future investments. /Turkiye/
TOPTAN RECEIVES BASKENT UNIVERSITY DELEGATION
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan yesterday received Baskent University Rector Mehmet Haberal and members of the University Senate. During the meeting, Toptan said that Parliament was ready to do all it can to help combat terrorism. He added that parliamentary deputies of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) had taken an oath to protect the basic features and unity of the Turkish Republic . /Hurriyet/
BABACAN REITERATES TURKEY 'S DETERMINATION TO FIGHT TERRORISM
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said yesterday that Turkey would do everything necessary to fight terrorism. Speaking to CNN Türk from Jordan , where he was on an official visit, Babacan said that Turkey was determined in its fight against the terrorist PKK. Stressing that Turkey is in close contact with both the Iraqi administration and the US over the presence of the terrorist group in northern Iraq , Babacan said that this week the Supreme Anti-Terror Board met in the wake of a recent string of deadly attacks. He added that all state institutions have been ordered to take necessary measures and preparations for possible action. Babacan also said that Turkey has issued warnings against an Armenian resolution before the US House of Representatives, saying its passage carries considerable risks. As part of his tour of Middle Eastern countries, Babacan visited Palestine and met with Palestinian Prime Minister Selam Feyyad. Then Babacan and his delegation went to Jordan , where he met with Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Al Khatib, King Abdullah and Prime Minister Maruf Bahit before returning to Turkey . /Turkiye/
CICEK MEETS WITH NGO REPRESENTATIVES
Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek yesterday had a meeting regarding the new draft constitution with representatives of non-governmental organizations at Ankara 's TOBB Economics and Technology University . After the meeting, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu said, "First of all, the Republic of Turkey 's status as a democratic, secular and social state under the rule of law will be the basis of the (new) constitution." He added, "These principles have been the foundation of the Turkish Republic for 80 years. Any step giving the impression of retreating from these principles would only sow tension and polarization." Cicek admitted that the method of drafting a new constitution had led to concern in some quarters, and added, "I am here to say this: If our method is deficient or wrong, let's reach this goal with your method." /Cumhuriyet/
AKP'S BAGIS: "ARMENIAN RESOLUTION BELONGS IN THE GARBAGE CAN"
In Washington , visiting parliamentary deputies yesterday met with members of a US House of Representatives committee set to vote today on a resolution on the Armenian genocide allegations. Speaking about the resolution, Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Chair Egemen Bagis said, "The resolution before the US Congress on the Armenian allegations about incidents of 1915 belongs in the garbage can." /Star/
OPPOSITION LEADERS CRITICIZES RULING AKP'S ANTI-TERROR POLICY
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday visited soldiers at Ankara 's GATA Hospital who suffered wounds in a recent terrorist attack in the southeast. Afterwards, at his party's group meeting, he criticized the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) performance in fighting the terrorist PKK. In related news, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli also criticized the premier's recent remarks about the terrorist attacks. At the MHP's group meeting, Bahceli also suggested that the prime minister should hold a referendum on taking a cross-border operation into northern Iraq . /Hurriyet/
NATO CONDEMNS PKK ATTACKS
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer yesterday said that he was deeply saddened to have learned of the death of 13 Turkish soldiers in recent terrorist attacks and offered his condolences to the Turkish army and nation. In a statement, de Hoop Scheffer said that he condemned this attack in the strongest terms and that Turkey deserved its allies' full support. /Turkiye/
US: "WE'RE COMMITTED TO WORK WITH TURKEY AND IRAQ TO FIGHT THE PKK"
As Parliament moves towards a possible authorization of a large-scale military operation into Iraq, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe yesterday said that the United States is committed to working with Turkey and Iraq to fight the PKK. US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack also spoke on developments in the wake of recent PKK attacks. "The US has counseled both Iraq as well as Turkey that the way to address the issue is to work cooperatively," said McCormack. "In our view, it is not going to lead to a long-term, durable solution to have significant incursions from Turkey into Iraq . We've said this for some time. It's not new. So our focus is going to be working with each side, with the Turks, with the Iraqis, and encouraging them to work together on what is a very difficult and persistent problem." /Aksam/
ARMENIAN FM: "ARTICLE 301 IS A BARRIER TO DEBATE ON GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS"
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian yesterday called on Turkey to abolish controversial Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article 301. Speaking to the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Oskanian said the article is a barrier to open debate on the so-called Armenian genocide issue. Referring to Turkey 's proposal to set up a commission of historians to discuss the events of 1915, Oskanian said this offer has been used by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to put Armenia in a difficult position. /Milliyet/
DEPUTY PM EKREN: "ECONOMIC GROWTH WILL PROMOTE STABILITY"
Deputy Prime Minister Nazim Ekren yesterday outlined the government's economic program for its second term. Speaking at a press conference at the Prime Ministry, Ekren said that an era of transition to stability had begun. Ekren said this new era would be characterized by more jobs, stronger industry, technological advances, stronger human resources and macroeconomic stability. He said these factors would help boost per capita income to $10,000. Ekren added that the government's five-year development plan covering 2008-2011 would be announced at the end of this month or the beginning of November. /Turkiye/